The Hunt Begins

??????

The capital ten years ago was just as impressive as it was now. The flickering candle lights of the city created massive shadows on the wall, painting the entire city red and black. With the silence of the night, it was eerie, like the world knew the heavy duty that I had taken on. I stayed in the shadows, trying to avoid the attention of all eyes, both real and imaginary.

Before I knew it, I had arrived at my pre-planned position. It was at the top of the tower, overlooking the military quarters. The lights there were dimmer, covered by grated windows and wooden blinds. I calmed my nerves, scanning the entire district.

Hours had passed with no real sign of my targets. The days of info gathering seemed to be worthless. They weren't in their house. They weren't outside the restaurant they frequented. They were nowhere. I didn't understand why. I racked my brain, trying to understanding what was different, what had changed.

It was also this point I began to treat they as big game. It allowed a few things to click in to my head. Something had spooked them into changing their habits. I knew somehow, I had been careless and let down my guard. Following my honed instincts for the hunt, quickly determining where they would feel safe.

They were in the mage guild. At this point, there was a pang of worry that spread through my body. The dimension in which the guild resides in forced me to be uncomfortably exposed to all manners of magic. Dropping my bow and cloak for simple robes, I snuck into the guild, blending into the hundreds of lower mages. Pretending to peruse the thousands of books on the walls, I rubbed constantly at the knife hidden in my arm, taking comfort in that I could defend myself in some way.

Wandering through the guild through hours, I entered a medium size annex. It was just large enough that most of it was blocked a soaring shelves. Sitting myself on a desk nearby, I pretended to study. The tomes before me where in an archaic language, making it unreadable to me. Gradually, I began to hear a commotion. From the doorway stepped in two tieflings. My targets. Behind them was someone who escaped my surveillance. Clutching both of his parents hands, he was wailing about, trying to drag them away.

"Papa, don't go here. Mama, stop." His shrill wails pierced the room.

Bending down, Vrak patted him on the head, comforting him. "Now, Savah, be a good boy, I need to find out how to stop your dreams."

Standing up, he turned to leave. Tears flowing down the child's face, he screamed, "But he kills you here!"

I nearly fell out of my chair. Staring at the little boy, he stared at me, as if he saw what I was about to do. His eyes were white and glowing with power. My prey had spotted me.

Solskin

Just keep calm. That had become my new mantra of self-control. With the world crumbling around me, I was desperately looking for what was left standing. But at this moment, it seemed that there was nothing but an oppressive void. Stepping out of my room, I went downstairs, my hands shaking with uncertainty. The tavern keeper was there with a friendly smile, pouring me my favorite bottle of ale. Over the course of our stay, we had become close drinking buddies, sharing stories about Erik and other various things. But now, that same friendly smile that greeted me every night hid some malicious agenda, a evil plan to betray me and backstab me.

I sat down at my usual spot, immediately drowning myself in the ale he just poured me. Sensing something wrong, the tavern keeper spoke up with the same old fatherly voice, "What is the matter?"

I ignored him, gulping down the last of my ale. Abruptly, I stood up and turned to leave. Laying one hand on my shoulder, the tavern keeper stopped me.

With a terrible burst of speed, which shocked even me, I grabbed the man's wrist tightly. "Leave. Me. Be." I spat out those words like daggers, staring down the old man. Letting go, I stormed off. Behind, I heard him mutter, "Well, something is the matter."

As I walked away, I didn't feel like myself anymore. I didn't recognize that hand that grabbed him. I had changed suddenly and drastically. Staring at the pale hand of mine, I realized that this was the new me. A completely different me.